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Abstract:

A low-profile particulate handling assembly is provided for use in
conjunction with a downstream treating device, such as a seed treater
unit. The assembly includes a plurality of juxtaposed particulate bins
and a surmounting turret assembly designed to successively deliver
particulates to the bins. The particulates within the bins are delivered
to the downstream treating device through respective lower outlets each
equipped with an adjustable slide gate assembly and a lower,
multiple-chute assembly. Preferably, each bin has a top wall which in
plan configuration approximates a sector of a circle, planar sidewalls,
and downwardly tapered, arcuate sidewall structure leading to the lower
outlet; in this fashion, the bins can be grouped with the sidewalls in
close adjacency, and with the outlets located to feed into a single inlet
of the downstream treating device.

Claims:

1. A seed treating assembly, comprising: frame structure including a
plurality of upright, stationary, spaced apart legs configured to rest
upon a support surface and defining therebetween an open area; an
elevated seed bin assembly supported by said frame structure and
including a plurality of individual, juxtaposed seed-receiving bins each
having an upper bin inlet, a lower bin outlet, upright sidewall
structure, and obliquely oriented sidewall structure, said sidewall
structures located between said bin inlet and said bin outlet, and
oriented to deliver seed to said bin outlet, each upright sidewall
structure of each bin being in close adjacency with the upright sidewall
structure of another bin, and with the obliquely oriented sidewall
structures thereof being generally opposed to and converging towards each
other, and with the bin outlets proximal to each other; an outlet device
operably coupled with each of said lower bin outlets in order to regulate
the flow of seed from the corresponding lower bin outlet; and a seed
treating device located between said legs at least partially within said
open area and beneath said bin assembly, said seed treating device having
an inlet within the open area, said proximal lower bin outlets each
located to deliver seed to said device inlet.

2. The seed treating assembly of claim 1, there being three of said bins,
each of said bins being at least approximately a sector of a circle in
plan configuration, with an outermost arcuate margin, an innermost
margin, a pair of inwardly extending, converging side margins extending
between the ends of said arcuate margin to said innermost margin, said
upright sidewall structure including a pair of generally planar
sidewalls.

3. The seed treating assembly of claim 1, including at least one load
cell operably coupled with each bin.

4. The seed treating assembly of claim 1, each of said outlet devices
comprising a slide gate having a plate adjacent said lower bin outlet,
and structure for selective shifting of the plate between a closed
position blocking flow of seed, and a plurality of open positions
permitting flow of seed from said lower bin outlet at different rates.

5. The seed treating assembly of claim 1, including a seed delivery
assembly located above said bin assembly and including selectively
shiftable seed delivery structure operable to successively come into
communication with said bin inlets for delivery of seed to each of said
bin inlets.

6. The seed treating assembly of claim 1, including weight-monitoring and
support structure operably coupled with each of said bins in order to
monitor the weight of seed within each bin, and to support said plurality
of bins on said frame structure.

7. The seed treating assembly of claim 1, said seed treating device being
a seed coater.

8. The seed treating assembly of claim 1, said frame structure including
a plurality of cross-braces extending between and interconnecting said
upright legs, said cross-braces oriented above said seed-treating device.

9. The seed treating assembly of claim 1, said obliquely oriented
sidewall structures of said bins converging toward a common lower apex
within said area.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
13/463,173, filed May 3, 2012, which is a division of Ser. No.
13/196,041, filed Aug. 2, 2011, which is a continuation of application
Ser. No. 13/034,671, filed Feb. 24, 2011, all of which are incorporated
by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is broadly concerned with low-profile,
multiple-bin particulate handling assemblies for use with downstream
particulate treating units or the like, in order to eliminate the need
for especially configured buildings to house the handling assemblies and
treating units. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such
handling assemblies, the individual bins forming a part of the
assemblies, and the combination of the handling assembly with downstream
receiving or treating devices.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Agricultural seeds are commonly treated with various
growth-promoting agents (e.g., pesticides and disease controlling
materials) or the like. Seed treating assemblies generally include a
lower seed treater with a seed supply tower above the treater designed to
provide a continuous supply of seed to the latter. The tower typically
has an uppermost seed bin with a surge bin below the seed bin, with the
surge bin oriented to deliver seed to the treater. In practice, seed is
conveyed by an inclined conveyor belt to the upper seed bin, which then
feeds the surge bin. A significant problem with these types of seed
treating assemblies is that they are very tall, on the order of 21 feet
or more in height. Given that most normal building do not have this
degree of height, it is often necessary to build a separate facility for
a seed treating assembly, or to add a cupola to an existing building to
accommodate the treating assembly. Either of these expedients adds
significant cost.

[0006] There is accordingly a need in the art for low-profile seed
handling apparatus which can be positioned above a seed treater to
provide a continuous supply of seed thereto, while eliminating the need
for purpose-built seed treating structures or add-ons to existing
buildings.

[0008] The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above, and
provides improved handling assemblies for particulates, and especially
agricultural seeds. In one aspect of the invention, the handling
assemblies include a plurality of individual, juxtaposed particulate bins
each having an upper bin inlet and a lower bin outlet, together with
structure supporting the plurality of bins with each of the lower bin
outlets in communication with a downstream receiver or device inlet. A
rotary turret assembly having a turret inlet and a turret outlet is
located above the plurality of bins, with the turret assembly being
selectively rotatable so as to cause the turret outlet to successively
come into registry with the individual bin inlets for delivery of
particulate to the device inlet from each of the plurality of bins. Each
of the bins is preferably supported by one or more load cells operable to
individually monitor the weight of particulate within each bin.

[0009] In another aspect of the invention, the particulate handling
assembly comprises a plurality of individual, juxtaposed particulate bins
each having an upper bin inlet, a lower bin outlet, and sidewall
structure extending between the bin inlet and the bin outlet. Each of the
sidewall structures includes a sidewall section converging toward the
downstream device inlet, and means is provided to support the plurality
of bins with each of the lower bin outlets in communication with the
downstream receiver or device inlet. A particulate feeding device is
located above the plurality of bins and is operable to selectively
deliver quantities of particulate to each of the upper bin inlets.

[0010] Each of the particulate bins forming a part of the handling
assembly is advantageously designed to save space and minimize the
complexity of the overall assembly. Specifically, the preferred
particulate bin comprises a top wall, which in plan configuration is at
least approximately a sector of a circle, with an outermost arcuate
margin, an innermost margin, and a pair of inwardly extending, converging
side margins extending between the ends of the outermost arcuate margin
to the innermost margin. The top wall has an inlet adjacent the innermost
margin of the top wall, which is configured to permit entrance of
particulate into the bin. The bin also has sidewall structure extending
downwardly from the top wall and including a pair of generally planar
sidewalls depending from the top wall side margins, and an arcuate wall
depending from the top wall arcuate margin, with the arcuate wall
including an inwardly tapered wall section. A lower bin outlet is
proximal to the lower ends of the sidewalls and the inwardly tapered wall
section.

[0011] The invention is particularly suited for the handling of
agricultural seeds in the context of seed treater systems. However, the
invention also finds application in virtually any situation where
particulates are to be provided in a controlled manner to a downstream
receiver (e.g., a conveyor or other take-away structure) or downstream
treating device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective of a seed handling system in accordance
with the invention, including a multiple-bin seed handling apparatus and
a lower seed treater;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the system
depicted in FIG. 1, with the treater inlet illustrated in phantom;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the seed handling apparatus;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the seed handling apparatus;

[0016]FIG. 5A is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the seed
handling apparatus, and illustrating in detail the construction of the
upper turret assembly;

[0017] FIG. 5B is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating in
detail the outlet assembly of the seed handling apparatus;

[0018]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the seed handling
apparatus;

[0019] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the upper turret assembly
of the seed handling apparatus;

[0020] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the seed handling apparatus,
with the top wall of the turret assembly removed;

[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the turret assembly, illustrating
the spring-biased seal plate at the outlet of the turret assembly;

[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a single bin of the seed handling
apparatus;

[0024] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of an outlet of one of
the bins of the seed handling apparatus; and

[0025] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the outlet illustrated
in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Turning now to the drawings, a seed treater system 20 is
illustrated in FIG. 1 and broadly includes a seed treater unit 22 and a
multiple-bin seed handling assembly 24 situated above the unit 22. The
treater system 20 is designed to coat agricultural seeds with any one of
a number of selected treating agents, and to deliver the treated seeds in
known quantities to a conveyor or other exit device (not shown).

[0027] The seed treating unit 22 is itself conventional and includes an
upper, open-top inlet 26, a treating chamber 28 and an outlet chute 30. A
variety of commercially available treating units may be used in the
overall seed treater system 20. Preferably, the unit 22 is one of the
treaters sold by USC, LLC of Sabetha, Kans.

[0028] The seed handling assembly 24 generally includes frame structure
32, a plurality (here three) of juxtaposed, identical seed bins 34, and a
rotary turret assembly 36 designed to supply incoming seed to each of the
bins 34. As illustrated, the seed handling assembly 24 is operable to
deliver seed to the inlet 26 of treating unit 22.

[0029] The frame structure 32 includes three equidistantly spaced,
upright, sectionalized support legs 38 with intermediate cross-braces 40
extending between the legs 38. An inwardly extending support beam 42 is
secured to the upper end of each of the legs 38 and has an innermost
apertured connection plate 44. A triangular turret frame 46 having
apex-mounted, apertured connection flanges 47 is positioned atop and
secured to the midpoints of the support beams 42 by means of threaded
connectors 48 extending through the flanges 47 and beams 42.

[0030] Each bin 34 (see FIG. 11) has atop wall 50, with an outermost
arcuate margin 52, an inner margin 54, and a pair of inwardly extending,
converging side margins 56. Each top wall 50 is a truncated conical
sector. Accordingly, each top wall 50 in plan configuration approximates
a sector of a circle, and particularly a 120° section. In
preferred forms, the top wall 50 is not a complete sector, but is
truncated by the inner margin 54. The bin 34 also has depending sidewall
structure 58 including an arcuate upper section 60 depending from arcuate
margin 52, and an inwardly tapered arcuate lower section 62 extending
from the lower margin of the section 60. Each section 62 is also a
conical sector, so that in a bottom view the sections 62 are in the shape
of an approximate sector of a circle.

[0031] A pair of upright, substantially planar sidewalls 64 depend from
the side margins 56. The inboard ends of the sidewalls 64 are
interconnected by means of a planar segment 68. The top wall 50 and
sidewall structure 58 are interconnected in order to define a seed
holding interior space. The inner margin 54 of top wall 50 and the upper
margins of the sidewalls 64 and segment 68 cooperatively define a seed
inlet 70.

[0032] Each bin 34 is equipped with a generally U-shaped support bail 72
having upwardly extending legs 74 at the juncture between the margins 52
and 56, with a cross-rail 76 secured to the upper ends of the legs 74. A
load cell 78 is secured to the midpoint of cross-rail 76 by means of a
lower clevis 80. The upper end of each load cell 78 is secured by means
of an upper clevis 82 threaded to the lower end of the adjacent connector
48, so as to suspend each bin 34 from the associated support beam 42. In
order to provide more precise weight control, a plurality of load cells
78 may be used in lieu of a single cell. A stabilizing assembly 84 is
centrally secured to the upper surface of top wall 50 and includes a
U-shaped body 86 and an upwardly inclined, apertured, generally
triangular connector plate 88. A pair of adjustable links 90 are secured
to the sidewalls of body 86 with the remote ends thereof attached to
stabilizer beams 92 affixed to the adjacent support leg 38 of frame
structure 32. An adjustable link 94 is connected between the plate 88 and
a flange 95 forming a part of one of the beams 92. A conventional bin
full sensor 96 is attached to top wall 50 and has an inwardly extending
probe 98 (FIG. 5A).

[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 5B and 11-13, the lower outlet end of each
bin 34 is depicted. Specifically, the tapered, lower arcuate sidewall
section 62 has a lower opening 100. A delivery chute 102 comprising
sidewalls 104 and end walls 106 depends from the lower end of the bin and
has a surrounding box-like mounting flange 108. The opening 100 and
delivery chute 102 thus define a lower seed bin outlet 110.

[0034] In order to selectively regulate the flow of seed from outlet 110,
the bin 34 is equipped with a slide gate assembly 112 and a
multiple-chute assembly 114. The slide gate assembly 112 includes a
primary frame 116 with a through-opening 118. A selectively shiftable
slide gate 120 is supported by the frame 116 and is shiftable in a
fore-and-aft fashion between a fully closed position blocking flow of
seed through the opening 118, and an infinite number of partially open
intermediate positions and a full-open position. Each slide gate assembly
112 has a sensor for detecting whether the slide gate 120 is in a closed
or open position. Movement of the slide gate 120 is effected by means of
a double-acting pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 122 equipped with
an open slide gate position sensor. A control valve 124 is also supported
on the primary frame 116 and is operatively coupled with the pneumatic
cylinder and a digital controller (not shown) which controls the
operation of the assembly 122. As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the
primary frame 116 is designed to mate with the flange 108, such that the
lower seed outlet opening 110 is in registry with through-opening 118.

[0035] The chute assembly 114 is secured to the underside of primary frame
116 and comprises a relatively narrow central chute 126 and a pair of
oppositely outwardly extending wider chutes 128. Seed delivered through
opening 118 is thus separated into three individual streams by the chutes
126, 128.

[0036] In order to stabilize the lower end of the bin 34, a pair of
oppositely outwardly extending adjustable links 130 are connected to the
chute 102 and the adjacent cross-braces 40. To this end, the cross-braces
40 are provided with central, inwardly extending stubs 132, and the links
130 are interconnected between flanges 134 on the stubs 132, and flanges
136 on the chute 102 (see FIGS. 10-11).

[0037] The turret assembly 36 is best illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 7. The
assembly 36 generally has a stationary turret mount 138 and a rotary
turret 140 within the mount. The mount 138 is hexagonal in configuration,
having a bottom wall 142 equipped with a central bearing opening 143, six
interconnected, upstanding sidewalls 144, and an uppermost,
circumscribing mounting lip 146. The bottom wall 142 has three
equidistantly spaced through-openings 148. The sidewalls 144 support
three equidistantly spaced location sensors 149 which are designed to
sense the position of turret 140. Three flexible tubular guides 150 are
secured to the underside of bottom wall 142 in registry with the
corresponding openings 148. The turret mount 138 is supported on turret
frame 46 with the lip 146 overlying the bars making up frame 46 (FIGS. 3
and 5A).

[0038] The turret 140 comprises a cylindrical housing 152 including a
bottom wall 154, upstanding, circular sidewall 156, and a top wall 158
having a central inlet opening 160. A sensor element 155 is secured to
the outer surface of sidewall 156 and is oriented to be sensed by the
location sensors 149. The housing 152 is equipped with a central drive
shaft 162 secured by a coupler 164 and extending below bottom wall 154.
The bottom wall 154 also has an offset outlet opening 166, with an
apertured seal plate 168 positioned below the opening 166 and in registry
therewith. The seal plate 168 is secured to bottom wall 154 by means of
connecting bolts 170 passing through the plate 168 and threaded into
bottom wall 154, with conical springs disposed about each bolt 170. An
obliquely oriented chute 172 is located within housing 152 and has a
lower opening 174 with a short, downwardly extending, tubular transition
176.

[0039] A drive unit 178 (FIGS. 5A and 6) is located beneath the turret
mount 138 and includes an electric drive motor 180 having an output
sprocket 182 and a drive chain 184 trained about the sprocket 182. The
chain 184 is also trained about a clutch assembly 186 receiving shaft
162. The sprocket 182, chain 184, and clutch assembly 186 are located
within the surrounding housing 188. The latter has an upstanding, tubular
bearing assembly 190.

[0040] As best seen in FIG. 5A, the turret 140 is received within the
turret mount 138, with the drive shaft 162 extending through the bearing
assembly 190 and clutch assembly 186, such that the turret 140 is
rotatable relative to the turret mount 138. Hence, operation of motor 180
serves to rotate turret 140, as will be described in detail below.

[0041] In practice, three of the bins 34 are supported in juxtaposed
relationship by the frame structure 32, so that the grouped bins present
a substantially circular configuration in plan. Each such bin is
supported by one or more load cells 78, the latter interconnected between
an upper support beam 42 and an underlying bail 72. In this orientation,
the sidewalls 64 of the bins 34 are in close, parallel adjacency, and the
flexible tubular guides 150 extend into the corresponding bin seed inlets
70, and the tapered sidewall sections 62 converge towards a common lower
apex. The three chute assemblies 114, being closely adjacent and near the
bottom of the respective bins, are sized to be received within the inlet
26 of seed treater system 20. The stabilizing couplers 90, 94, and 130
serve to maintain the position of the suspended bins 34 within the frame
structure 32.

[0042] Control of the seed handling assembly 24 is accomplished through
one or more programmable digital controllers (not shown) which are
suitably connected with the aforementioned sensors, load cells 78,
control valves 124, and the drive motor 180 and clutch assembly 186
forming a part of the turret drive unit 178. The controller(s) are
appropriately programmed to carry out the operation of assembly 24, as
described below. Such programming is conventional and well within the
skill of the art.

Operation

[0043] In the operation of seed handling assembly 24, incoming seed is
delivered through the turret central inlet opening 160 by any convenient
means. Typically, this is effected by an inclined conveyor leading from a
supply of seed to the opening 160. The incoming seed is sequentially
diverted to each of the bins 34 by appropriate positioning of the rotary
turret 140 within turret mount 138, so that the lower opening 174, the
opening of seal plate 168, and transition 176 of the chute 172 come into
registry with one of the through-openings 148 of bottom wall 142. This is
illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 8 where the opening 174 and transition 176
are in registry with one of the openings 148, with the other two openings
circumferentially spaced from the one opening 148. Seed is delivered to
the associated bin 34 by passage along chute 172, through opening 174 and
transition 176, and ultimately through the guide 150 into the interior of
the bin.

[0044] As seed accumulates within one of the bin 34, the weight of the bin
is monitored by the associated load cell(s) 78 and bin full sensor 96.
When the one bin is filled to the desired degree, the turret 140 is
shifted or indexed via turret drive unit 178 so that the lower opening
174 and transition 176 of turret 140 come into registry with the next
adjacent opening 148 and guide 150, and the process is repeated. During
such movement, the spring-biased seal plate 168 engages the upper surface
of bottom wall 142. Precise positioning of the turret 140 is obtained by
means of the position sensors 149 and sensor element 155. In this
fashion, the turret 140 successively diverts seed to and fills the three
bins 34.

[0045] Simultaneously with this stepwise filling of the bins 34, seed is
delivered through the lower bin outlets 110, slide gate assemblies 112,
and multiple-chute assemblies 114. Flow of seed is controlled by the
respective positions of the slide gate assemblies 112. Thus, the seed
travels from the seed bins 34, through delivery chutes 102 and
through-openings 118, as governed by positions of the slide gates 120.

[0046] Desirably, the bins 34 are filled and emptied using known
loss-in-weight techniques, so that a substantially even supply of seed is
delivered to the inlet 26 of seed treating unit 22. This also allows
computation of the precise amount of seed delivered to the treater 22.
Therefore, certified seed weights can be provided to a buyer, without the
need for a separate weighing step.

[0047] It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a
low-profile seed handling assembly which permits smooth, substantially
even flow of seed to a downstream treating device, such as a seed treater
unit. Moreover, while the invention has been described in the context of
seed handling, it will be appreciated that the invention could readily be
adapted for use in handling virtually any type of particulate material.